It’s a busy day between doing research, working on my thesis proposal, and spending a few hours with my study group. By the time it’s all over I’m exhausted and just want to head home and crawl into bed. The only thing keeping me going is the fact that I’m going to get to see Dante.
I pull up outside his house, turn off the engine, and take a deep, steadying breath. While I’m nervous, I’m also more excited than I’ve ever been. I take a few minutes to study myself in the visor mirror. I was right; I do look tired, but still, there is a sparkle in my eyes that I’m not used to seeing and I know that’s all him.
I dig through my purse and find the lip gloss that I don’t often use, applying a light layer to my lips, making them look just a little fuller. The last thing I do before I leave the car is run a brush through my hair and try to fluff it up a little, but it’s no use. It would take a mountain of product to give me some volume, and I didn’t have time to go home before coming over. Besides, I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard. With one more deep breath, I make my way to his front porch and ring the doorbell before I can chicken out.
Before the sound of the bell even fades the door is swinging open, revealing the man of my dreams. I thought maybe he would look different to me after last night but he still looks like the same insanely attractive man that I’m used to. Well, besides the fact that I can now accurately picture what’s underneath that plain white tee and pair of well-worn jeans.
“Hey,” I say with a shaky breath.
“Hey. Come on in.” He gives me his own nervous smile and steps to the side, letting me in before closing the door behind me. We’re both silent, just staring at each other. He looks more nervous than I feel, if that’s even possible.
We seem to be at a stalemate. Neither one of us wanting to make the first move so I decide for once in my life I’m going to be brave. Before I can think too much about it, I practically launch myself at him, my body slamming into his, my arms going around his neck. He obviously wasn’t expecting my surprise attack and takes a half step back, steadying me against him. Before he can say anything, my mouth is on his. I press my lips against his and the feeling sends a shiver down my spine. He’s still for a few seconds, letting me lead the kiss until the feeling of our bodies pressing together, my lips on his, causes me to let out a moan.
Suddenly, he’s taken over the kiss. It’s no longer the soft exploratory kiss I started but something hot and heavy. His lips slant over mine while one of his hands gets buried in my hair and the other is on my hip. I try to wiggle closer to him, feeling like it will never be enough.
He’s hard again, just like last night. His cock is digging into the soft skin of my stomach and I gasp. Immediately his tongue enters my mouth, taking what little breath I had left away. I’ve kissed boys before but it’s never been anything like this. His tongue seems to search my mouth, demanding that my own dance with his. My nipples are hard and I try to rub them against his chest but there are too many layers of clothing between us and I can’t get any relief so I let out a whimper.
Suddenly, his mouth is ripped away from mine, and his hands are no longer encircling my body. He’s holding my upper arms to steady me while he takes a step back, leaving me feeling cold and unsatisfied. I tilt my head back to look at him, not really understanding what’s happening. My mind is clouded with a haze of lust but when I look into his eyes, I see sadness... and regret.
“Violet, we can’t.” Those three words send a sharp stab of disappointment into my body. “I’m so sorry.”
“But I thought you liked me. I thought you were attracted to me.”
“I am,” he says hurriedly. He turns his head away, no longer able to look me in my eyes. “I’m too old for you, Violet. And then there’s Bianca...”
Well, what can I say to that? I always knew that he saw me as a kid. It’s one of the reasons I’ve tried to forget about him over the years. And Bianca would have always been an issue between us. Who can fault him for putting his daughter before me? I have the sudden realization that he didn’t call me over here because he wants to be with me, he had me come over so he could let me down easy and I’m mortified.
“Does this mean I’m fired?”
He looks a little stunned by the question. “No! Of course not. We can just forget this ever happened.”
If he thinks this whole thing is something I can just forget he’s crazy. I’ve made a complete fool of myself and it’s taking everything I have to not burst into tears in front of him. He may be older than me, think he’s better than me, that I’m just some silly girl but I won’t let him see me cry. I won’t prove his point for him.
I’m trying to think of something to say that will show just how much I don’t care when I feel a buzzing against my leg. Relieved by the interruption, I pull my phone out of my front pocket and see that Bianca’s sent me a text. I give an involuntary flinch at the sight of her name but unlock my phone to read it, giving me precious moments to get my emotions in check.
Bianca:Something happened between Hollie and Archer. She just got home and she’s having a total meltdown, I’m not sure what to do. Can you get here ASAP?
Say what you will about Bianca, the girl has impeccable timing. I try to push Dante to the back of my mind, to a place where I put things I don’t want to deal with, and instead try to focus on my concern for Hollie. I don’t know what could have happened. Last I knew, Archer was taking her to some fancy charity dinner tonight.
I shove my phone back in my pocket and turn toward the front door. “I’ve got to go, that was Bianca, there’s a problem with Hollie.”
“Vi, don’t you think we should talk about this?” He puts his hand on my shoulder to stop me from leaving but I shake it off like his touch is poison.
“There’s nothing to talk about. You’ve said everything that needs to be said. You don’t have to worry about me, I get it.”
“What are you going to tell Bianca? You know, about us?”
He’s nervous. Afraid that I’m going to spill this secret and ruin his relationship with his daughter. I carefully school my features so that he can’t see the pain that this entire conversation has caused me before turning to face him. “There’s nothing to tell. There is no us.” Before he can say anything else, I’m out the door without so much as a backward glance.
THIRTEEN
Dante
As I watch Violet walk away from me, I can’t help but feel remorse along with a hefty helping of guilt. It’s possible that was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do in my adult life. The very last thing I wanted was to shoot Violet down.
After she fled and left me alone last night, I tossed and turned in bed, not getting a single moment of sleep. Violet had been my fantasy come to life. My heart about exploded when I saw her standing in my bathroom doorway but then I took in the entire picture. Her eyes were glassy with desire, cheeks pink, her hand down her skirt. It was obvious from her quick panting breaths that she was pleasuring herself while spying on me. I should have sent her away but I couldn’t find the strength. Instead, I continued stroking my dick all while wishing that her skirt would disappear so I could get a better look at what she was doing. As soon as she pulled out her tit and I could see her dusty pink nipple, hard as a rock, I lost control. The sound of her voice telling me she was going to come made my every nerve ending come alive and I came harder than I have in recent memory.
On the one hand I was in awe of the fact that she seemed to be as into it as I was, if not more so with her stealthy actions. I never could have imagined that someone like Violet could want me even a fraction of the amount that I want her. On the other hand, I was filled with guilt. I should have put a stop to it. We were both drinking, and I know that there was no way she would have been so bold without the alcohol loosening her inhibitions.